Folding bed for trailer vehicles



April 27, 1954 D. LACOSTE 2,676,839

FOLDING BED FOR TRAILER VEHICLES Filed Aug. '14, 1952 A INVENTOR. 7 2l/ld L noos e .2-1 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 27, A 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING BED FOR TRAILER VEHICLES David Lacoste, Cumberland Hill, R. I.

Application August 14, 1952, Serial No. 304,416

This invention relates to a folding bed.

An object of the invention is to provide a folding bed so constructed as to provide for a compound swinging and linear movement to move the same from an upright position to a horizontal position of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding bed so constructed and supported as to be adapted for use in a restricted area in which itis not desirable to have an open bed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding bed so constructed as to be partially suspended when in its position of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding bed so constructed as to be completely enclosed when in its position of use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding bed and compartment therefor in which the bed will be suspended from one wall of the compartment and will provide a closure for the opposite side of said compartment when the bed is in the non-use position.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a folding bed so constructed as to be particularly adapted for use in a trailer vehicle.

Al more specific object of the invention is to provide a folding bed for a trailer vehicle in which said bed will project outwardly of an outer wall of the trailer body when in the position of, use thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described', and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of one end portion. ofV a trailer bodyl illustrating one embodiinent of my invention and with .the bed portioninits upright position; e e e Fig.` 2 is a similar view showing the bed portion thereof in the position of use;

, Fig.Y 3 is' a horizontal sectionall view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

- Fig. .4 is a sectional Aviewon an enlarged scale taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

v Fig. 5 isa similar view to Fig. 4 with certain partsv shown in different relations to each other; Fig. 6 is a sectional'view on an enlarged scale of a-fragmental portion at the location enclosed within the circle indicated 6 at the lower portion -'f-'FigirS-is a-sectional view on an enlarged scale 9 claims. (ol. 296-23) of a fragmental portion at the location within the dotted circle indicated 8 at the lower portion of Fig. 2.V

The invention in general is to provide a bed construction to be used in connection with an outer wall of a building wherein the bed when in the position of use will project for a major portion thereof outwardly of the wall and when in the position of non-use will occupy only so much space against said outer wall as is necessary for storing the bed Within the said structure. Thus the space required within the structure will only be that required for storing said bed in the upright position. I also arrange for the bed to be moved in a path the inner end part of which is confined wholly within the space occupied by the bed within the structure when said bed is in the positionof non-use or in the upright position thereof. The invention has particular application for use in a trailer vehicle wherein space is very limited. In the drawing, I have shown the application of the invention as applied to a trailer vehicle, having a body I0 which may be of any conventional .type'of a metal or non-metal character. In the present instance the walls of the body are a laminated wood construction, the outer and inner sections, II, I2, respectively, being properly supported and attached to a frame made of suitable uprights or ribs I3. In one of the walls of thebody III, as by way of example, the end wall I4, I make an opening I5 of a rectangular shape. The portion I5 of the opening I5 (see Figs. 1, 2, and 8) through the outer section II of the wall is made larger at the sides and lower edge thereof than the portion I5" of the opening I5 extending through the inner section I2 so as to provide a shoulder I6 at the lower edge and sides of the said opening I5. The edges of the opening I5 are nished such as by means/of blocks I'I to close the spaces between the ribs I3 at the said edges. The lower edge of the inner opening portion I5" provides a rest I8 for a purpose to hereinafter appear.

A closure or door I 9 for the opening I5 is hinged as at 20 tothe wall I4 at the upper edge of the opening I5'1to swing outwardly and the door I9 is of a size and thickness to engage against the shoulder I6 to extend flush with the outer wall section I I `when the door I9 is in the closed position. The upper inner edge of the door I9 abuts against the edge of a plate 2l which extends along the upper edge Yof the opening I5 to reinforce the said Wall I4 at the said location. Thus, when the door I9 :is in theY closed position a tight seal is provided along the edges thereof. There is provided within the trailer body at the said opening I5 a compartment 22 having side walls 23, top wall 24, and a lower front wall section 25, the upper edge of which is at the same horizontal level as the rest I8. The front or inner side of the compartment 22 above the wall section 25 is left open as at 26 and the side walls 23 extend upwardly from the floor 2 of the trailer and substantially tothe line ofA the wall: section 25':v extended. The top wall 24is spaced fi'omtheroof 28 of the body I and a front wall section 29 extends from the said top wall 24 to the roof 28 and pro:-l vides a storage chamber 30, theV sides,l of ,which may be left open or closed as the choice may be.

The chamber 36 may be used for the storagecf.

bed clothes and the like.

The inner side of the inner marginal edge of'L each side wall 23 (see Fig. 7) has a rabbetformed therein to form a guide3l extending the entire length of` said side walls to openinto the charnber 36.

A bed frame, designated generally 32"has a bottom wall 33, sidewalls 34, and an end wall 35. The end wall 35` is arched as shown (see Fig. 2) for apurpose which will hereinafter appear. The bed frame is of a widthv to be readily passedI through the opening, I andthe bottom wallv 33I thereof extends beyondithe sides 3,4' (see Fig. 2).. At each opposite edge of the projecting portion of the bottom wall 33, I pivotally mount thereon a guide blockt as by means of a stud fastening 31 having a head 38; The block s6 may be made. of any suitable material and I have found a wooden block treated in oily satisfactory.v` The block 36 extends to engage inthe groove of. the guide 3i, thus slidably mounting, one endof Vthe. bed frame 32 for verticalmovement alongl said, guides 3l. Theend wall 35, is hingedly mounted on the closure orv door I9 at the lower marginal edge thereof as at 39 (see Fig. 6)v and inwardly from the lower extremity ofthe end as shown. Thus mounting the other end ofthe bed to be carried by the said door I9. to swing Vtherewith and also permit relative movement thereto. It will now be apparent that the bedframe 3.2A` isY mounted for a compound movement dened by the combined vertical and` swinging Vmovement thereof.

Whenthe bed frame 32 is in its positionoi use (see Fig. 2), the same will extend generally horif zontally into the open through the opening I5 to restv on the upper edge oi the wallr section 25 and the rest' I8;

A; counter balance device 4i! ,(see Figs. l, 2, and

'2) of any knownmanuiacture isprovidedTto aid in lowering or raising the bed frame 32; There are two of these devices 4o and each isl mounted on the wall 24 to be adjacent to a guide 3;I. In the lpresent instance'the device d6' is a spring type having a tape M'wound abouty a drum 42; and extending thereirom into the groove of the guide 3lk and the/free end of the tape 4'! is'attached to the blo-ck 36 as byineans ofl an opening in t-he tape through which the fastening 31 extendsv soY asto clamp the tape 4l between the block 36 and the head 38 of the fastening 37. Thus the bed'frame and door I9 are counterbalanced for any position thereof'. f

. The bed frame 3^?` will normally remain in the used position without any. locking means. How.- every, suchlocking meansmay be provided" if desired. In the present instance a latch and catch arrangement designated generally Iltis-.provided (see Fig. 5). This comprises a notch 44 made vin the marginal lower edge ofthe door I9 ata. posie tion adjacent the hinge 39 outwardly thereof. This notch extends the entire width of the door and receives therein the upper extremity of the wall 35 when the bed frame 32 is in the position of use. Thus the weight of the door I9 bears on the bed frame 32 in a direction tending to move the block 36 into engagement with a side wall of the groove of the guide 3|. The notch 44 and said wall edge 45 also provides a seal at saidlooation` when the bed isin the position of use'.

Since the bed extends outwardly of the enclosing wall, it is desirable that closures be provided forA thev side portion of the bed. To this end closures-46are provided, one for each end of the bed-and are` made to conform to the triangular shape of the end openings 4formed by the bed ends and-the door I9 in the raised position (see Fig. 2).. Each closure 46 is similar and is mounted on a side wall 34 or" the b ed frame 36 as by means of a piano hingel so asto swing inwardly. The hinged edge of each closure 461s rabbeted asat 48"(see-Figs. 4, 5) to engagewith asimilar matching rabbet 49' provided in the said wall'34. Thusr a seal isformed between the wall 34 and thev closure @when in the closed position. There is also. provided on the door i9 adepending-lip 56 (see Fig. d)v against which the upper edge ci the closure46 abuts when in the closed positionV providinga seal atthis location. A window 5I may be provided in one or each of the said closures 46 ifidesired; Y

In order to position the bed frame 32 from the non-use or upright4 position as shown inFig. l,

. the free end portion of the bed bottom33 is grasped and pulled downwardly. Thismovement of the bed framev will cause the door; I9 to swing outwardly andcarry therewith the'otherend portion of the bed frame 32, the curvature of the wall 35 permitting ample clearance for the same to clear the lower edge of theopening Ilias carried therethrough.

Upon the bed bottom 3344 reaching the-lower end of'its travel, the bed frame will project fromV said guides 3l substantially horizontally to rest or lie on said wall25`and rest i6 with themajor portion of the'bed' frame extending outwardly. The closure 46y may then be swung upwardly from the folded position shown in Fig. l to theg position shown in Fig. 2 to engage against the rlipli, a lock (not shown) may be provided for locking said closures 46 in the open position. The mattress and bed clothes have not been shownl but these Y may be arranged to'be held in the bed frame 32 in any position thereof.

To return the bed rameto the non-use or'upright-position thereof, the bed bottom 33 is pushed upwardly along the guides 3| which will'carry the door lftherewith to the closedA position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bed bottom 'providing a closure for the opening 26 of the compartment 22.

it may now bel apparent that I have disclosed a novel folding bed construction which is particularly adapted for use in places wherein there is4 insuicient spacefor an Open bed. I have described the'bed and'itsstorage compartment 22 as being vbuilt and made part of the trailer body. However, the storage compartment and the bed may likewise be builtas a separate unitto be added to .anexisting structure, such as a porch or other placeswherein sucht a. bedfmayl be desired.

Iclaim:

1. A. folding bedcomprising a housing'having a .,wall; provided. with an opening, generally vertically, dspOSed guides spaced fromi said wall and from each other, a hinged closure for said opening, a bed frame mounted at one end thereof on said closure for movement relative thereto and therewith when said closure is swung to and from said opening and said bed frame being secured at the other end portion thereof t0 said guides for movement along said guides, said bed frame in its position of use projecting from said guides generally horizontally through said opening and beyond said wall and, when in the upright position said closure covering said opening.

2. In combination a trailer body having an outer wall provided with an opening, a hinged closure for said opening, generally vertically disposed guides within said body spaced from said wall, a bed frame having one end thereof hingedly secured to the lower end of said closure for movement therewith and relative thereto and secured at its other end to the said guides for movement along said guides to move said frame to an upright position and to a generally horizontal position, said bed frame when in its position of use projecting from said guides generally horizontal to lie on the lower edge of said opening and extend beyond said wall, said closure providing a covering for the portion of said bed frame projecting beyond said wall.

3. In combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bed frame has hinged side closures for closing the sides of said bed frame extending beyond the said wall.

4. In combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein a counterbalance is provided for said bed frame.

5. In combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said counterbalance is'of a resilient type.

6. In combination a trailer body having an outer wall provided with an opening therethrough, a closure for said opening hinged along the upper edge thereof to the upper edge of said opening for swinging movement to and from said opening, a side wall extending inwardly from adjacent the side edges of said opening providing a compartment within said trailer body, said side walls each having a vertical groove at the inner edge providing spaced guides, a bed having a solid bottom, side walls and an end wall, said end wall being hingedly secured to the lower marginal edge of said closure for movement therewith and relative thereto, said bed being secured at the other end to said guides for movement along said guides whereby when said bed is in its position of use the same will project generhorizontally from said guides to lay and be supported on the lower edge of said opening and extend outwardly Ibeyond said wall, and when moved to the upright position said bed will swing within the connes of said compartment and said closure will close Said opening and said bed bottom will provide a closure for said compartment.

'7. In combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein a latch and catch relation is provided for holding said bed in the use position.

8. In combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein side closures are provided for said portion of the bed extending outwardly of the said wall.

9. I combination, a trailer body having an outer wall provided with an opening, a hinged closure for said opening, vertically disposed guides at a position inwardly of said opening on opposite sides thereof, a rest extending between said guides, a bed frame having a bottom wall and V having one end thereof hingedly secured to the lower end of the closure for movement with said closure and movement relative thereto and pivotally connected at its other end to said guides for movement along said guides to move said bed frame to an upright position and from an upright position to a generally horizontal position, said bed frame when in the horizontal position being supported at its inner end on said rest and suspended at the other end by said closure, and when said bed is in the upright position extending between said guides with the said bottom Wall providing a closure for the space between said guides.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 403,171 Giu July 30, 1889 1,299,331 Gydesen Apr. 1, 1919 2,155,582 Bond Apr. 25, 1939 2,167,557 Stout July 25, 1939 2,355,340 Strope Aug. 8, 1944 

